Culloden

Any Outlander fans? The real historic site of Culloden (1746) is the perfect spot to visit for anyone interested in Jacobites, Bonnie Prince Charlie or the Stuarts. With French support, Bonnie Prince Charlie attempted to reclaim the British throne for the Stuart family. Needless to say, it didn’t go very well. There’s a nice visitors center and the battlefield is really remarkable. You can find much of the land preserved perfectly, with markers for where the two armed forces would’ve been, and gravestones for the Scottish clans who fought in the skirmish.

Cabinet war rooms

The Map Room at the Churchill War Rooms and Churchill Museum. Kaihsu Tai / Own Work / Wikipedia /CC BY-SA 3.0

Skip ahead a bit to World War II. Everyone knows the civilians of London were forced to take shelter in bunkers, but the same holds true for important government officials, including Winston Churchill himself. You can view the cabinet war rooms, where war strategy would’ve been planned in safety as early as 1939. You can also visit Winston Churchill’s private quarters. Though the man didn’t spend much time there, it’s still a fascinating visit for Churchill fans and World War II buffs.

Battle of Britain Memorial

In Kent, near the White Cliffs of Dover, you’ll find the Battle of Britain Memorial. The touching monument is an airplane propeller when viewed from the air, and a World War II flier seated on a mound when viewed at ground level. The statue of the flier appears to be looking out at the English Channel. Also found are two full-scale replicas of actual aircraft that fought in the battle, as well as a memorial featuring the names of the British airmen who fought in the battle. The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust built the memorial with donated funds.

Western Approaches Museum

Actual photo from the Operations Room at Western Approaches. Wikipedia / Public Domain

Head to Liverpool to enjoy the Western Approaches Museum, set inside a World War II bunker. The complex was the site of a command center when the Allied forcers were fighting the German U-boats in the Atlantic Ocean. Operations at the complex protected nearby ships and also was the site of a lot of planning and strategizing to fight against submarines during the war. The museum is pretty open to visitors, allowing them to explore all of the bunker as it is, including the all-important telecommunications and mapping rooms, as well as the rest of the complex.

HMS Belfast

HMS Belfast as seen in 2013. Alvesgaspar / Own work / Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0

Step aboard a naval ship with a wide and varied history. The ship was built in time for World War II, during which it acted as part of the British blockade against Germany, and was actually struck by a German mine. After repairs, the ship escorted arctic convoys to the Soviet Union, destroyed a German warship, supported the Normandy landings, joined the British Pacific Fleet in the Far East, and even participated in the Korean War. Now, the HMS Belfast is a museum ship permanently located on the River Thames, where guests can explore all nine fascinating decks.

Porthcurno Telegraph Museum

The Porthcurno Telegraph Museum is important throughout history for more than a few reasons. The spot marks where the first transatlantic telegraph wires reached western Great Britain and was once one of the busiest communication hubs in the entire world. However, in World War II, the hub became an important location for Britain to send and receive secret messages to its allies. Underground tunnels were used for this purpose, and the tunnels have been left more or less the same as they were during World War II. The museum is a fascinating visit for all ages and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Dover Castle

Dover’s military history is extensive. The cliffs of Dover were used by Anglo-Saxons and Romans as far back as the Iron Age, as the site was a good defensive location in Great Britain. The crude Iron Age fortresses gave way to stone strongholds and then eventually elaborate defensive forts featuring tons of underground tunnels and barracks used in the Napoleonic Wars. Visitors today can view the area’s history from medieval times all the way up to its role in World War II. The castle is very well-preserved.